Why only computer games??

[letis]

...with the advent of the nextgen consoles, you will see more things like patching and such, although obviously not to the level you can see on a PC. The trade off is that (usually) console games will come out as more finished products as a result.

Sorry to look pessimistic, but let me share my second law of computers & electronics : "If it can be patched or repaired, then it will be needed. And probably not in the way nor reasons you will like."

regards,

 

[jpowers]

With all those things you've mentioned, they typically have finished creating those items weeks or even longer before the release date, so they have ample time to dupe the discs and get them to stores well before the release date. That's why with music, you can hear a song from a cd that isn't due out for almost a month, because it's done being created so far in advance. I know when I worked at Future Shop/Best Buy that we'd have stuff in inventory a few days before the release date every time, but if we were caught selling them before the release we could get fined big bucks.

I write software in another sector (not games), and it's pretty typical in this industry to announce full product support whenever the marketing department decides it's best, whether or not there is actual product there. No regulatory pressure exists, and most software products are not 'commodity' competitive, where you can just go buy brand X if brand Y isn't working/on-time.

 

[Carver]

Sorry, but console games bore me and I am very, very sad to see computer game disappear from stores like EBGames and Gamestop in favor of dumbed-out console games. I have yet to see an intelligent game for any console that is not based on shoot-em-up or sports.

Strategy games on a console? Unheard of. Fact is that any computer game is far more advanced than any console game. Plus, yes, computer games can be patched, upgraded, enhanced with add-ons, custom made content, etc.

Your statement is a small exageration (to me), but I generally agree. The racing, football, and FPS games are fun at times but can't come close to rivaling good PC games - like Civ.